Reno is a pretty small area. The idea that they have split into 4 other circuits seems like more rumor than fact just based on the setup. Once you leave Reno/Carson City, there is a whole bunch of nothing for a long time.
problemaddict
JoinedPosts by problemaddict
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44
Reno Nevada JW Splinter group??
by wannaexit inapologies is this has already been discussed.
i came across this website www.
is this a new splinter group among jw's?.
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CD or copied WT article when reverse-witnessing?
by NeverKnew inso, a couple of weekends ago, i, a non-jw, went to my non-jw cousin's house and lo and behold, two witnesses showed up.
amongst the many random topics, the mediatorship of jesus came up.
i stated, "...now, in your faith, jesus is not your mediator, correct?
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problemaddict
Just tell them you have some friends that are JW's, and that they have told you flat out that they believe that jesus is ONLY mediator for your priest class or such things, and that you think it is bunk. If they tell you they don't believe it, suggest that they do not know what they believe, and should be aware of their current teachings if they attempt to speak to others about their faith.
They won't like you, but it will at least SHAME them into looking it up. They may accept the WT reasoning "men...not all men" (are you serious?), but you will still be right.
You can do it in a friendly way, but you are just trying to make an impression to be able to get them to think on their own.
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Do Witnesses Have Any Aspirations Anymore?
by minimus inwhen i was a kid, my family wanted me to reach out for any type of "privilege", whether it be cleaning the rest room or being an attendant.
obviously, reaching out to be a ministerial servant and elder were high on the list.. since college was a no no, we were to aspire to be something within the congregation.. i wonder if anyone aspires to be anything in the organization, at this point in time..
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problemaddict
Yep. Lots and lots. Nothing has changed but you. :)
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ApostateChick Strikes again "Jehovah's Witnesses--Why The @#$% Are You Here? "
by Watchtower-Free infyi just saw her latest youtube vid.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwd72g8pb3q.
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problemaddict
I like her, I like her story. I realize she has spunk and is just doing what is helping her personally heal.
That is really all that matters i guess. As far as her videos, she certainly isn't bring any JW's around anytime soon.
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3 more branches closed?
by Viva la Vida init seems the finland branch has taken over the work from estonia, latvia and lithuania (see http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/offices/finland/).
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problemaddict
I don't know guys. I still think this is not that big of a deal. I don't think most people know. As long as they continue to build (which they do with wreckless abandon), tout new advances and projects (which they do with wreckless abandon), and grow which they are......nobody cares but us.
Its a consolidation for buisness purposes. Its the right thing for them to do financially. I think you guys overestimate the role of the branches locally. They really are just distributors. Its based on population or nearby countries, ease of uniformity of language, and local roles, as well as number of adherants.
As long as the number of JW's worldwide and in general continues to grow or even remain stagnat, there is no reason to think these things are closing because they have to.
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What is happening in Mexico?
by ILoveTTATT ini have heard that a lot of the english congregations in mexico are shutting down... they are condensing 5 congregations into one, or in some areas even disbanding the only english congregation.
jw's who have been living in mexico for many years and probably were sheltered by being in the english congregations will now have to move to spanish congregations.... .
ilttatt.
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problemaddict
Cultural differances. Expats from the US are still part of US culture (even though they may not think so). So they go any play the entitled ugly american role that they are better and more knowledgeable than the locals because of that American thing alot of people here have. i mean lets be honest here. We have a short power distance culture.
The problem is that the people in these foreign language halls, rarely if ever make an impact in the ministry. They basically just exist. So it diverts resources. In fact, they tend to whine, complain, use the branch as their own personal embassy, and more. In some countries the branches will no longer extend visas to "need-greaters", and in other places, they basically don't want you to come. Bolivia for example. They know the foreigners that come in are either on long holiday, or are too shocked to be any good. They need alot of baby sitting. So better to just say sure come if you want, its a free world.
Why encourage behavior where only one out of every 10 is of use, when you can just get more locals to do the work.
Remember consolidation and getting more streamline is not neccesarily a harbinger of failure. Its actually the smart thing to do. They are just closing down inefficiencies.
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3 more branches closed?
by Viva la Vida init seems the finland branch has taken over the work from estonia, latvia and lithuania (see http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/offices/finland/).
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problemaddict
I wouldn't read too much into these things guys. These "branches" mostly were fairly smaller organizations. Witht he world being more flat than ever, it only makes sense to merge responsabiltiies and take advantage of technology. Any smart buisness with the scope they have would do the same thing, they may have just done it sooner.
Instead of having that money tied up, it can be liquidated and put to work.
I don't know if there is much to see here.
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Are YOU a Believer, Atheist, Agnostic, Active JW or WHAT?
by Greybeard insorry if this has been asked before but i would love to know the current ratio on this forum.. i'm a believer/christian former jw for 45 years... born in .
what are you now and what were you?.
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problemaddict
SE 1974.
Welcome to the board. Lets have a conversation. Start up a thread. I have been inactive for about 10 months. When the blood issue came up with the birth of my child, it forced me to think about not only my personal refusal of blood which I basically had just accepted, but refusing for my wife or child, and what that meant. I studied the ins and outs, and no longer accepted the societies simplified, blood transfusions are in violation of the "abstain" verse, explanation.
Once I discovered the overly ridgid and nonsensical interpretation of that doctrine, as well as the flip flops, the outright dishonesty, and even the concessions made......it kind of let me peak through a wall that i myself had built.
I have good friends, a good family, and all of them are JW's. I am currently trying to leave with all of them in tact. I am doing so not because I couldn't give my son an answer......but because I think the answer was to go.
So here I am. From pioneer, MS, need-greater, RBC lead, etc.... to inactive "spiritually weak" guy who shows up at the convention to help out with his kid, but secretly just writes notes to his wife to get her to think. I think its working!
So lets talk. What is it you want to discuss? I don't think JW's are wrong about everything. I should say that at the onset probably. Either way its good to know this group of people has a variety of experiences and has served at almost every level of the org. Alot of good people here who support one another, who think critically and research, provide humor and support, and others that just are angry because of abuse. So lots of personality.
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Similar Religions to Jehovah's Witnesses
by God_Delusion inhi guys,.
i am sort of having a breakthrough with my mother-in-law.
she's not really going to the meetings any longer but still believes the jehovah's witnesses are the "true religion".. in our last conversation, she said the following:.
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problemaddict
Maybe also close it out with another specific thing at the end. JW's are VERY similar to Scientologist in a very specific way. The group atmosphere, special "language and volcabulary", and especially.......disconnection.
Exactly the same as disfellowshipping. Its amazing.
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Experiences With The Elders
by minimus indid you generally have good experiences with the elders ?
we're any situations especially memorable???
pro or con.....
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problemaddict
The answers here are going to vary widely. Why? Because JW's are in many ways just like everyone else. There are good people, true believers, captive to a concept, that still do their best. They ignore things that sound judgemental, and embrace things that keep power in check.
I had many of these guys in my life, while I suspect most here did not. It makes it more difficult to leave, when you don't have a specific instance of abuse, or a pattern of abuse from some jerk elder who shines it on you every chance he gets, in order to help create and filter anger. I left purely because of doctrinal wackiness. Now I realize that even the best elder, will most likely obey "mother" against their own conscience and that is sad.
Mostly however, my dealing with elders were good. I have a fairly strong personality and there was always one or two (once I was in my 20's, assumingly because they felt threatened or something), that liked to try to keep me in check. I largely ignored them. Unfortunately, my worst and most interesting encounter with one of the guys that are part of the problem, was when I had already woken up to so many things. Because I felt like I had little to lose, I think I came off as challenging this guy. He was an ex-CO and had something to prove. The hall can't stand him.....still.
Well he took up that challenge, and we went there. I'll tell the story some day. Still though, most of the elders in my life......very good people.